Portable game apparatus for pool and billiards



. (N0 Model.) "2 Shegts-Sheet 1.

J.. SHERMAN. PORTABLE GAME APPARATUS FOR POOL AND BILL IARDS.

Patented July 12,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J, SE -MAN; I

Patented July 12,1881.

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UNITED STATES A PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SHERMAN, OF BRISTOL, PENNSYLVANIA.

P0 RTABLE GAME: APPARATUS Fo R' POOL-AN o ,e- L Ll'A RDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,324, dated July 12, 1881.

Application filed February 4, 1881. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SHERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Bristol, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, have invented a Portable Game Apparatus for Pool and Billiards, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to construct-a cheap, portable, and effective apparatus for playing the game of pool or billiards, the main features of the invention being the pivoting of the table to the frame of a lounge or sofa, and the construction of the table in such a manner that it can be produced at so cheap a rate as to warrant its use in the making of such a combined article of furniture. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table as arranged for playing a game of pool; Fig. 2, a perspective view, showing the parts adjusted as when the table is not in use; Fig. 3, a transverse section of the table 3 and Figs.'4, 5, and 6 enlarged views of parts of the device.

A represents an ordinary sofa or lounge body, upholstered as usual, and having feet a, but without the ordinary back. To the end frames of this lounge are pivoted, by means of bolts 1), frames B, which are connected to the end bars of the frame D of a billiard or 'pool table, that shown in the drawings being a pooltable, and having the cushions and pockets necessary in playing that game. When the table is turned up over the lounge, as in Fig. 1, a notched arm of each of the frames B is adapted to a projecting stem, d, on one of the end frames of the lounge, and is secured thereto by tightening anut, e, which, for convenience of manipulation, is made in the form of a wheel. The table is thus rigidly secured to the loungeframe, and the proper stability of said table is insured, the lounge-frame being accuratelyleveled by the adjusting-screws f, with which the feet of said lounge are provided.

A pool or billiard table constructed in the ordinary way, however, is much too heavyand costly to be combined with a lounge or other article of furniture, as aboveset forth; hence I adopt a special method of making the table, with the view of obtaining at small cost a perfectly level and reliable playing-surface. This construction is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which D represents'the frame of the table, and E the body of the same, which consists of boards accurately fitted together and secured against warping by suitable cleats on the back. This body E is rabbeted at each edge, and is adapted to the rabbeted inner edges of the frame D, being retainedin place vertically by strips 9 securedto said frame. The upper edge of the body is made perfectly true and level with the top of the frame D, and over both frame and body is tightly stretched a covering, m, of thick paper, which forms the backing for the cloth cover at. The paper cover is preferably dampened, and while expanded secured to the frame D, before the application of the body E thereto, the latter not being applied until the paper is thoroughly dry and tightly stretched, so that the backing does not interfere with the drying of the paper, and the dampness of the latter has no tendency to cause the backing to-warp. The body E forms afirm and uniform backing for the paper cover at, but is entirely disconnected therefrom, so that it is free to expand and contract without affecting the smoothness or integrity of said paper covering. If the said body E is rigidly connected to the frame D at the edges, however, the unequal expansion and contraction of the two parts has a tendency to cause the body E to buckle, and thus interfere with the truth of the table hence I allow a space to intervene between the edges of the body E and the frame D, so as to permit independent expansion and contraction of either part. (See Fig. 4..)

The pivot-bolts, b, for the end frames, B, of the table, have threaded portions, adapted to threaded openings in blocks 8, secured to the end frames of the lounge,.as shown in Fig. 5; and the securing-bolts d are passed through openings in said end frames, and are secured thereto by nuts t, equal in thickness to the projecting portions of the blocks '8. (See Fig. 6.)

The table has cushions, which may be constructed and applied in the usual manner; and when intended for use in-playing billiards instead of pool the breaks in the cushions where the pockets occur may be filled with short cushions constructed to fit said breaks.

Iclaim as my invention-'- 1. A portable game apparatus, in which a table adapted for pool or billiard playing is combined with a sofa or lounge body, and pivoted end frames, B, whereby the table may be turned up over the lounge or sofa for playing, 4. The combination of the frame D and covor turned down to form the back of said lounge ering of the table with the body E, loosely fitor sofa, as set forth. ted to the frame, so as to be free to expand 2. The combination of the lounge or sofa and contractindependently thereoflas setforth. 15

5 body, the table, the end frames, B, the pivot- In testimony whereof I have signed my name bolts 1), the bolts (1, and securing-nuts e, as set to this specification in the presence of two subforth. scribing witnesses.

3. The combination of the frame D of the JOSEPH SHERMAN. table, the paper covering it, and the body E, Witnesses: 10 forming a support for said covering 01-, but not JAMES F. TuBIN,

secured thereto, as set forth. HARRY SMITH. 

